Lecture 8 Flashcards
(25 cards)
What role does technology play in human success?
Ecological
Do other animals besides humans make tools?
Yes, other animals like chimpanzees (crack nuts) and crows (make tools)
What is cumulative culture?
Human culture evolves by the accumulation, over time and generations, of innovations, leading to complex technologies.
Why is only human culture considered cumulative?
Only human culture appears to be cumulative due to uncritical imitation and retention of innovations across generations.
What difference exists between human and chimpanzee innovation retention?
Human innovations are imitated and retained, while chimpanzee innovations are unlikely to be retained after the innovator’s death.
What are the two types of stone tools?
- Chipped (oldest, Paleolithic period)
- Ground (more recent, Neolithic period)
How are chipped stone tools made?
Made by removing flakes from a rock core
What is the importance of stone raw material in tool making?
Stone raw material is important and chosen carefully.
What types of hammers are used to remove flakes from the core?
- Hard hammers (stones)
- Soft hammers (antler, wood)
What is direct percussion in stone tool making?
greater force, less precision, used to remove large flakes.
What is indirect percussion in stone tool making?
Hammer used to strike a punch for more precise removal
What is pressure flaking?
small flakes were removed with high-precision
What happens as you move from direct percussion to indirect percussion to pressure flaking?
You decrease the amount of force applied and increase the accuracy and precision of your action.
What material becomes important after the transition from foragers to agriculture?
Ceramic becomes an important class of material.
Clay is sourced…
and mixed with water
What is temper in ceramics?
Temper is material incorporated to clay to improve workability and strength
What materials can be used as temper?
- Bone
- Wood
- Charcoal
- Ash
- Sand
- Rocks
- Shell
What is the coiling method in pottery making?
rope of clay coiled up to form the wall of the pot.
What is the paddle-and-anvil method in pottery making?
Interior wall supported by an anvil, exterior is beaten smooth with paddle.
What is the significance of the wheel in pottery?
Used in the Old World; New World potters never used the wheel.
What is the mold method in pottery making?
Lump of clay is pressed into a mold.
What are the two types of kilns used for firing pots?
- Open kiln
- Closed kiln
What are the characteristics of an open kiln?
Easier but lower temperatures, uneven cooking, higher failure rate.
What are the characteristics of a closed kiln?
Consistent, high-temperature, vitrification (glazing effect) is allowed
